Part 2/2 of 'Tick-Tock' is now up and posted.

1. This is an edited version of this chapter. Check chapter notes for any changes.

2. There is a hard 'M' rated scene of intimacy coming up soon and I'm contemplating posting it as a separate story because I want to keep this one rated 'T'. If you think you might be interested in this, let me know in a review.

3. Apologies for any spelling/grammar mistakes that may come up in this chapter.

Tick-Tock: Part 2

King Frederic ran through the castle hallways until eventually arriving upon the presence of the large crowd of castle workers, guards, maids, butlers; servants all alike; every single one of them surrounded at his daughter's door like a pack of feral animals.

Off to the side he saw Nigel, the speaker for the royal family, biting at his nails in angst with widened eyes because of the large crowd. It was if he had no idea what to do to calm the incensed wave of people down.

There were murmurs all around, questions, ramblings; the area's sound was deafening and Frederic could barely hear himself think. He finally had enough and walked over to the royal speaker, dropping his arm roughly on the man's shoulder, causing Nigel to startle.

He narrowed his eyebrows and spoke in a dark, low menacing voice. "Get them quiet. Now."

Nigel trembled as he slowly nodded to the menacing King, bringing his hands and fingers to his mouth before unleashing a deafening whistle. "Attention, I say, attention!" He screamed over the crowd, and everyone simultaneously stopped in their conversations to turn and face the royal speaker. Even the Queen herself, who was still the closest person to the door, turned her head.

"His majesty, King Frederic, requests a word!" Nigel bowed and Frederic stood forward with both hands behind his back.

"Everyone here that is not a doctor, nurse or guard must exit the vicinity immediately. Anyone who fails to oblige by this order will be relieved of their duties and dismissed on the spot, no questions asked." He paused and scrutinized the faces of his workers before raising his voice and barking, "Is this understood!?"

Frantic nodding came from the crowd as all the non-essential workers began to pile out in every direction. There was no organization, not in a dire time like this.

Frederic turned to the few guards that remained and pointed to the nearby wall, "Men, position yourselves against that wall in a line!"

Each guard nodded their head and in a matter of moments, they were all lined up in an orderly fashion just as he ordered.

Content with his men following their orders, Frederic walked through the small crowd that was in the process of dispersing and stopped in front of his wife. Next to her was Dr. Henry, the royal doctor, holding a medical bag in one hand as per his orders.

"Ari, my love," He spoke softly to her, his voice exerting a tint of sadness, "are there any updates?"

Arianna looked up to her husband with saddened eyes before letting out a quiet cry, flinging herself into his arms and crying into his chest. He wrapped one arm around her form and looked to Dr. Henry, a much shorter and older man that wore big rounded glasses, who was now giving him a look of sympathy.

"Pray. Please, Joseph, pray for my daughter's safety."

Doctor Joseph Henry responded in a soft and gentle voice, nodding once. "As you wish, your majesty,"

The Doctor dropped his medical equipment on the ground as he kneeled on both of his knees. He held the palms of both of his hands together in front of him, saying a quiet prayer to himself in hope for the future of their Kingdom, wishing for the Princesses' survival in her most trying time yet.

Eugene stared at her bathroom door with widened eyes. The only noise he could now hear came from the clock above Rapunzel's desk, causing the hairs on his neck to stand still.

Tick-Tock it went. Tick. Tock.

He slowly approached her door, leaning his head forward, trying to hear any sound, any signal or sign that could tell him that she was awake and still breathing. He needed hope, he needed something that would tell him that not all is lost yet, that this dream he's living would not die on this day.

And that's just what he got.

He held his ear up to her door and was barely able to hear her faint breaths, and something as little as this was all he needed.

Eugene likes to think of himself as a big, strong and handsome man. And what is something that big, strong handsome men don't do? They don't cry.

But something snapped inside him as he voluntarily let the tears form up in his eyes, blinking them away as he felt the irritation of their saltiness running down his cheeks. In this moment, he didn't care about the way he looked, because for the first time in what feels like ages, a newfound feeling of hope and joy filled his entire being.

Rapunzel is breathing.

She is alive.

His own breaths had become frantic by this point, and he cautiously took hold of the door handle, twisting it slowly before finally pushing it open.

Rapunzel was resting against the back wall, appearing as if she was in some sort of daze. Her left leg was arched with her foot resting calmly in a straight-up position, no damage done there. Her right leg was fully extended across the floor, and Eugene held in a gasp as he saw a small pool of blood under the arch of her foot. Her left hand was being held against her forehead, as if she was in pain there, and he prayed inwardly that it wasn't what he's thinking. Her right hand was clutching onto the fabric of her dress where it ended right beside her knees.

And not only was she still breathing, she was still squirming her body ever so faintly. All good signs; she looks hurt, but the visible signs of life are still there.

He ran to her right side and dropped to his knees, pulling both of his hands to her face, instantly feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he realized that she, thankfully, was not bleeding there.

He held his hands to her cheeks, lifting her up so he could meet her eyes. A part of his heart broke when he saw how dark they were, how much of the normal bright, vibrant emerald green color they lacked; frankly, she looked as if she had fallen asleep with her eyes open.

He moved the two fingers on his right hand to her neck to check for a pulse and he felt one; though, it was faint. "Oh, thank you, thank you," he tilted his head up and whispered to himself before leaning forward with his forehead and resting it cautiously against hers. Her lip began to slightly tremble and she murmured something under her breath.

"Eu.. Euge-"

"No, no. Don't talk, my love. Save your breaths. Everything will be okay, I'm here," he rubbed her cheekbone with his thumb, "I'm here. I'm never leaving you."

A faint smile appeared on her lips and her eyes seemed to awaken from the slumber they had succumbed to. Both her hands and arms were trembling but she slowly lifted her left, bringing her palm to the side of his cheek.

He carefully leaned and nuzzled into her touch, doing his best to be as gentle and cautious as ever, but he quickly grew concerned with how cold her entire hand felt to his bare skin.

He wondered if she could even tell that he shaved, and that he now wore a ponytail. The poor girl is exhausted and drained both mentally and physically. She probably doesn't even know where she is.

Eugene grabbed hold of her left hand and brought its knuckles to his lips, smiling as he watched a sweet but broken smile rise up on Rapunzel's face. "I'm sorry, Rapunzel," he whispered to her, kissing her there, his warm breaths dampening her skin.

She slowly attempted to shake her head and even managed blinked her eyes a few times, her body twisting and turning at how warm his touch made her, as if she did not want to feel such a feeling. "No...no…"

"Yes yes," he chuckled and lowered her hand, "I was blind, baby girl. I was blind and I couldn't see the light."

She laughed quietly at that comment, only to immediately throw her fist up to her face and cough violently into it. After, she whimpered and pouted her lips and let gravity take over, her head sinking forward into his shoulder. As if it was pure instinct for her, she reached over with her right arm and gradually wrapped it around his neck, leaning into him, savoring in his touch and the warmth his body emitted. She's needed this for too long.

More chills were sent down Eugene's spine as he felt the chill that was being emitted from her body. And then it dawned on him that she's been locked inside this room the entire day in the freezing cold, her fire probably having died out hours ago. He also remembers not seeing any sign of food tray during his frantic entrance, signifying that she's probably not eaten anything all day either.

For all he knows, she's dehydrated, starving and cold; probably already sick, if he's being honest here.

Eugene leaned back and cupped her face with his hands before slowly pulling her close, grazing his lips up against hers, cringing at her chill. He knew what this would do to her, how it would make her feel, because he knows she is just as attracted to him as he is to her.

She needed warmth, but a part of him felt that she needed him now more than ever. And he's decided now that he is going to give her his everything; not now, but sometime very soon whenever she's ready.

He nibbled her lips so softly, so slowly, feeling her body take its time to heat up, knowing that there still was much work to be done. Rapunzel wrapped her other arm around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening their kiss. As if by magic, her strength was slowly coming back to her, and with that, the realization of her current predicament.

Eugene pulled away and gazed into her beautiful emerald-green eyes, chuckling quietly to him. He knew he was about to cry again but he didn't care. Just the fact that she's here in front of him, breathing and alive...was more than enough to put a new life in him.

Seeing her in his arms gave him a new purpose. It was as if his heart was now on overdrive, as if all the cold sensations he was feeling had vanished within thin air... and he felt as if he could take on anything the world had to offer.

"I love you," he whispered to her, his breaths brushing up against her face. She tilted her head so nonchalantly to the side and gazed lovingly at him with her now brightened eyes, a faint blush tinting her cheeks.

For now, Eugene has nothing left to fear. The love of his life, the woman he gets to share this amazing dream with, is now resting safely in his arms as he cradles her.

And he's never going to let her go ever again.

A/N: Finally, the last of the edits! Not much has changed except for some refinement of the dialogue.

So happy to finally be progressing with this story again! Be on the lookout for a new chapter soon!

Edit History (MM/DD/YY):

1. 6/12/20